Wineries of the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA

Basalt Cellars (Mon - Sat, Noon - 5:30 pm, and by appointment) 906 Port Way Clarkston, WA  99403 509-758-6442 Clearwater Canyon Cellars (Fri and Sat: 12 - 5 pm and by appointment.) 3143 10th Street Lewiston, ID  83501 208-816-4679 Colter's Creek Vineyards & Winery Winery: 20154 Colter Creek Lane   (By Appointment - 208-874-3933) Tasting Room: 308 Main Street (Wed - Fri: Tasting, 1 - 5 pm, Food, 5 - 9 pm; Sat: Tasting, 12 - 5 pm, Food - 12 - 9 pm; Sun: Tasting & Food, 12 - 5) Juliaetta, ID  83535 208-874-3933 or 208-276-3342

Lindsay Creek Vineyards (Thurs - Sat: 1 - 9 pm; Sun: 1 - 5 pm; or by appointment, 208-746-9463) 3107 Powers Avenue Lewiston, ID  83501 208-746-WINE (9463) Vine 46 Winery Winery: 4020 Hatwai Road (Call to schedule a private tasting, 208-717-1646) Newberry Square Tasting Room: (Fridays & Saturdays 10 am - 7 pm) 800 Main Street, Suite 6 Both in Lewiston, ID  83501 208-717-1646

Three more wineries are just a 40-minute drive to the north
in Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington.

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Tour Guide

Twisted Vine Wine Tours
(Serving Idaho and Washington's
Lewis-Clark Valley AVA)
Lewiston, ID
509-295-1306

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Details of Idaho & Washington's Lewis-Clark Valley AVA:

ACREAGE - Formed by the Snake and Clearwater rivers, the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA consists of canyon side and bench lands and is 306,658 acres in size.  About 72% (219,838 acres) are located in Idaho, the rest in Washington.

 

SOIL - Mollisols soils comprised primarily of decomposed perennial grasses and grass roots with high water holding capacity. The majority of soils contain loess, or wind-deposited nutrient-rich silt.

 

GEOLOGY - The geology of the AVA creates good planting areas that are easy to develop and contain air drainage characteristics ideal for wine grapes.  It also contains steep sides with shallow stony surficial cover for more classic and exotic vineyards sites.  This AVA is home to the lowest elevation vineyards in the state of Idaho.

CLIMATE – Known as the “banana belt,” the Lewis-Clark Valley is known to be a temperate climate within the colder surrounding regions--this produces high quality fruit trees such as peaches, apples, wine and table grapes.  Steep v-shaped valleys allow for good air drainage, providing frost protection and cool nighttime temperatures for acid retention and flavor development. The annual precipitation varies between 11-22” each year with 2600-3000 average annual growing degree days.

WATER – Directly below originating water sheds of the Palouse and Camas Prairies. Annual precipitation is sufficient in some areas to allow for minimal irrigation.

GRAPE VARIETIES - Twenty-three grape varieties are currently (as of April 2016) grown and sold in the vineyards of the AVA - 14 red wine grapes and nine white.

HISTORY - Vines were planted in the Lewis-Clark Valley as early as 1872. Varieties such as Petit Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc were cultivated.  By 1908, 40 varieties of grapes were being cultivated.  Two years later, Lewiston voted a ban on alcoholic beverages and the industry crashed.  Most of the wine was turned into vinegar and winemaking virtually disappeared until the late 1990s.